Seattle taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $700,000 after Mayor Katie Wilson asked embattled Police Chief Shon Barnes to resign just days after the city’s handling of the deadly Bite of Seattle mass shooting came under intense public scrutiny.
According to an Optional Resignation Agreement obtained by KVI, Barnes will leave City Hall with 18 months of salary worth approximately $560,000, more than $30,000 in taxpayer-funded health insurance, payment for unused vacation leave, and the ability to keep $110,000 in hiring and relocation incentives that the city agreed not to recover.
The payout comes after a tumultuous final week in office that saw Barnes criticized for attending a law enforcement conference in Dallas while three people were killed during the Bite of Seattle shooting, the city’s nearly five-hour delay before holding a press briefing, questions surrounding his frequent travel to Chicago, the revelation that his family continued living there while he maintained a Seattle apartment, a heated confrontation with a reporter, the cancellation of scheduled media interviews, disclosure of a federal tax lien tied to his Chicago-area home, and multiple Office of Police Accountability investigations.
Under the resignation agreement, Barnes’ departure will officially be recorded as a voluntary resignation. The agreement states Barnes’ final day on the city’s payroll was July 30, 2026.
In exchange for resigning and releasing the city from virtually all employment-related legal claims, Barnes will receive a package that includes:
- Approximately 18 months of salary at his current hourly rate of $179.54, totaling roughly $560,000 before taxes.
- Twelve months of COBRA health insurance for Barnes and his covered family members at $2,525.99 per month, totaling more than $30,300.
- Payment for all unused accrued vacation leave under city policy.
- The ability to keep the $50,000 hiring incentive he received when he joined the Seattle Police Department.
- No obligation to repay up to $60,000 in relocation benefits or any moving expense reimbursements.
Taken together, the salary payout, health insurance, forgiven hiring incentive, forgiven relocation reimbursement and vacation payout could exceed $700,000, making it one of the largest separation packages awarded to a departing Seattle official in recent memory.
In exchange for the compensation, Barnes agreed to release the City of Seattle from “any and all claims and liabilities” related to his employment and resignation.
The agreement waives potential claims under numerous federal, state and local employment laws, including Washington’s Law Against Discrimination, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Seattle’s Fair Employment Practices Ordinance.
Barnes also agreed not to file future legal claims against the city arising from his employment and agreed to withdraw any existing complaints or claims.
The agreement further states that, unless Barnes authorizes additional disclosure, Seattle’s Human Resources Department will only verify his dates of employment, position and salary to future employers.
Barnes faced widespread criticism after it was revealed he was attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives conference in Dallas while gunfire erupted near Seattle Center, killing three people and wounding several others.
Public frustration mounted as nearly five hours passed before Seattle officials held their first formal media briefing following the shooting while multiple suspects were at large. The city also declined to issue a mass emergency alert.
During a press conference days later, Barnes acknowledged that his wife and children continue to live in the Chicago area while he maintained an apartment in Seattle.
Records later released by the department showed Barnes had spent significant time away from Seattle attending conferences around the country and making trips back to Chicago. He later canceled scheduled interviews with multiple media approximately 30 minutes before it was set to begin after questions intensified over his travel schedule.
The Office of Police Accountability also confirmed this week that it had received 60 complaints against Barnes during his roughly 18 months as chief. Fifteen remain open, including two new investigations stemming from his confrontation with a reporter following the Bite of Seattle press conference.
There is also a federal tax lien filed against Barnes and his wife tied to their Chicago-area home. According to Cook County records, the IRS filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien alleging $86,841.14 in unpaid federal income taxes for tax years 2021 through 2023.
Wilson’s handling of Barnes’ departure also sparked criticism from members of the Seattle City Council.
